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i was in college vs i was at college

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'I was in college' is commonly used to indicate that someone was a student at a college or university. On the other hand, 'I was at college' can be used to mean physically present at the college campus. It can also refer to the period of time spent at college.
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Explained by Jennifer
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Last updated: September 12, 2024 • 19278 views

i was in college

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate that someone was a student at a college or university.

This phrase is used to convey that the speaker was enrolled as a student in a college or university.

Examples:

  • I was in college when I decided to change my major.
  • She met her best friend while she was in college.
  • He learned a lot of valuable skills while he was in college.
  • Jun 23, 2014 ... When someone in the US says "When I was in college..." he can mean "college" but he can also mean "university", so I've been told.
  • Aug 16, 2021 ... Synonym for When I was in college, They are very similar, and I would use either of them in the same situations. I think the only difference ...
  • Sep 21, 2024 ... 1.5K votes, 55 comments. Hello! I thought some people here may enjoy this. I am from Minnesota and while I was in college over a decade ago ...
  • Jun 12, 2005 ... Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backward 10 years ...
  • 6 days ago ... When I was in college, I desperately wanted to attend a top university in US for my Master's. Diwali was like a fun day, nothing more.
  • Jul 30, 2024 ... When I was in college, I loved Peru so much that I thought I might go to graduate school to study Peruvian art.
  • Nov 22, 2023 ... When I was in college, there was a point when I felt completely Lost, I was clueless about what to do next, I was not sure about how to go ahead in my career.
  • May 28, 2019 ... My mother was in prison while I was in college. Two months before I graduated, she was released to me. 33. Nikkya Hargrove, center, with her ...
  • Aug 7, 2024 ... When I was in college, I lived in a dorm called Collins Hall, which housed students majoring in the Arts and Music. I was laboring furiously ...
  • When I was in college and I caught the radio bug, the thing that made me want to be on the radio was morning radio. It's a part of your every day life. If ...

Alternatives:

  • I attended college
  • I studied at college
  • I was a student in college
  • I went to college

i was at college

This phrase is correct and can be used to mean physically present at the college campus or referring to the period of time spent at college.

This phrase can indicate physical presence at the college campus or refer to the period of time spent at college.

Examples:

  • I was at college when I received the news.
  • She spent four years at college studying engineering.
  • He was at college for the entire semester.
  • Mar 18, 2022 ... The answer is context dependant. "Where were you today?" "I was at college." Versus. "What were you doing in your late teens and early twenties ...
  • Sep 30, 2017 ... Hi, everyone. The following question is from Grammar in Practice 5, CUP. When I was at college I ___ (A. would B. used to) often go to ...
  • Sep 16, 2023 ... I got my mom into the automata show and told her how much I love emil, over the week I was at college she made me these lil guys. NieR ...
  • Dec 15, 2022 ... C: When I was at college I studied physics. A: Here “college” is something I think about, and have opinions on. It's an abstract idea of a ...
  • May 17, 2021 ... Something that was interesting to me when I was at College Re-Entry is that when you are there you aren't a patient, you are more of a student.
  • Apr 21, 2024 ... ... I was at college, I was suffering from reoccurring infections, and the doctor prescribed me an antibiotic. I mentioned that I could not have ...
  • Nov 10, 2021 ... When I was at college, I had to decide which subjects I wanted to study at university & which university I wanted to go to.
  • 6 days ago ... I was at college and would have to send in an absentee ballot, something I knew nothing about. I figured there are millions of other ...
  • May 20, 2022 ... I was at college in rural Vermont and voted by mail. At this point in time, nonstop cable news didn't truly exist yet, at least where I grew ...

Alternatives:

  • I was on campus
  • I was in school
  • I was studying at college
  • I was attending college

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